Merchandise display case



Nov. 11, 1947. H. P. GLASS 2,43%35 MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CASE Filed Nov. 8, 1944 INVENTOR. er Glass.

ATTORNEY;

Patented Nov. 11, 1947 HenryPeterGlass, Chicago; Ill., assignor to Ekco Products Company, Chicago,- Illl, a corporation of Illinois Application November 8, 15544,- siial at. 562,524

This invention relates to acase' or cabinet in connection with which assorted articles of filer; chandise may be displayed in orderly groups to facilitate selection of goods by the customer and a bulk supply stored in segregated groups in concealed relation to the articles on display so as to render the same protected from deterioration, and yet readily accessible to the dispenser;

This invention seeks to provide a merchandise display case of novel construction and design.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a merchandise display case embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating details of construction of the case shown in Fig. 1.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, I designates a counter of any suitable style having a horizontal top wall I I providing a base on which the cabinet forming the subject of this invention may be supported at a suitable height.

The cabinet, in its preferred embodiment, includes a box-like framework of rectangular plan, of such size as to be readily mounted on a counter or table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the cabinet comprises a pair of bottom members I2, a low front wall portion I3, a high back wall portion I4, and end Walls and I6 suitably joined to and braced between the ends of said front and back wall portions. The upper edge of the end walls I5 and I6 has a portion II, extending upwardly at a gradual incline from a point adjacent to the upper part of the front Wall I3 toward the back wall I 4, and a portion I8 thereof, extending downwardly at a relatively steep .incline forwardly from the top edge of the back wall I4, whereby said portions l1 and I8 of the end walls intersect to form an obtuse angle having its sides emanating from a vertex or corner relatively close to the back wall I4. Extending between the end walls I5 and H5 at a suitable distance above the bottom members I2, are a pair of spaced parallel supporting bars I9 and 20. The bars I9 and 2|] are so arranged as to present their upper surfaces in a plane substantially coplanar with the edge portions I1 of the end walls I5 and It on which a series of independently removable fiat article- 2 Claims. (01. 3124119) carrying panels 2| may be supported in a row or lateral alignment parallel to the front and back Walls aforesaid to provide a continuous unbroken top wall for the cabinet. The panels 2| are rec= tangular in plan and of such dimension that the outermost edge 22 of eachv of the outermost panels is substantially flush with the outwardly facing surface of the end walls I5 and I6, when in Operative lateral alignment. The inwardly facing surface of the framework defining the top portion of the front wall I3 of the cabinet provides a stop rail 23 against which the forward edges of the panels 2| may have sliding engagement lengthwise of the front and back walls of the cabinet. The rear edge of each panel is prefer ably bevelled outwardly from its upper surface toward its lower surface to produce an extension or lip 24 engageable with a stop-rail or ledge produced by the underside of a supporting bar 25 secured between the end walls I 5 and It in alignment with the juncture between the upper edge portions I1 and I8 of said end walls and parallel to the stop-rail 23. This surface of the bar 25 cooperating with thelip 25 of the panels 2| and the stop-rail 23 provide opposed guideways in which the panels 2| may slide in a fixed path longitudinally of the front and rear edges of the panels.

The space above the bar 25 is adapted to be closed by means of a panel 26 secured between the upper edge of the back wall and the bar 25 so as to position the forward surface of the panel 26 substantiall flush with the edge portions I8 of the end Walls I5 and It. The panel 26 is preferably provided with a series of spaced sight openings 2'! in alignment with the panels 2| through which appropriate display cards 28 referring to the article carried by the panel 2| opposite thereto, may be viewed. A pair of rails 29a and 29b preferably extending the full length of the panel 26 cooperate with the rear face of the latter to provide recesses or grooves in which the upper and lower edges respectively of such cards 28 may be engaged and so supported with relation to the sight openings 21.

Operating through an opening in the front wall of the cabinet for disposal within the chamber underneath the panels 2| is a drawer 30 partitioned as at 3| and 32 to provide bulk storage compartments corresponding to the articles carried by the panels 2| arranged thereabove. The front of the drawer 30 is preferably provided with a glass plate 33 and an interior partition 34 parallel to the plate 33 conjunctively to create a chamber for the display of individual articles 3 corresponding to the articles carried by the panels 2|.

In Connection with the display of articles of cutlery, such as a knife 35, the panels 2| may be recessed as at 35 to provide a pocket in which the handle of the knife may be seated and retained against accidental displacement. I From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention combines merchandise display and merchandise storage facilities into a unit that presents a neat appearance and incorporates novel features of construction.

The "preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specifications, but it will be understood that'modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A merchandise display unit comprising means forming an upright enclosure of rectangular plan including a front wall, a relatively high rear wall, and end walls connecting corresponding ends of said front and rear Wall, said end walls each having an upper edge portion extending upwardly at a gradual incline from a point adjacent to the upper part of the front wall toward said rear wall, and an edge portion forming a rearward extension of said upper edge portion extending downwardly at a relatively steep incline forwardly from the top edge of the rear wall, whereby said upper edge portion and said extension intersect to form an obtuse angle having its sides emanating from a vertex relatively close to said rear wall, means providing a continuous top surface across the space bounded by the aforesaid upper edge portions of the end walls, said front wall and a vertical plane through the vertex of the angle formed by said upper edge portions of the end walls and said extensions including a plurality of substantially flat article displaying panels of uniform'rectangular plan arranged in side by side substantially abutting relation, and means bridging the space between the rearward limits of said panels and the upper limits of the rear wall including an upright panel substantially parallel to the rearward extensions of the upper edge portions of said end walls, and

spaced sight openings in said panel each in alignment with a panel extending forwardly therefrom.

2. A merchandise display unit according to claim 1 wherein the front wall is provided with an opening, and a drawer is mounted for sliding movement through said opening toward and away from a position wherein the front wall of the drawer closes said opening.

' HENRY PETER GLASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

